Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Privacy

The Nexus of Copyright and Intellectual Privacy

Alex Cameron, a lawyer with Faskens, recently obtained his doctorate in law from the University of Ottawa (I served on the examination panel at his defence). He has posted his important thesis examining the nexus between copyright and intellectual privacy, which is available here.

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September 20, 2012 1 comment News

Privacy Commissioner of Canada Launches Online Complaint Form

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has launched a new online complaint form that will allow Canadians to file privacy complaints via the Internet.

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August 24, 2012 3 comments News

Prime Minister’s Privacy Policy Requires a Re-Write

As public concern over Internet privacy has grown in recent years, one of the first responses is invariably to focus on the need for improved disclosure through easily accessible website privacy policies. The policies provide information on how personal information is collected, used, and disclosed to third parties.

While few visitors read the policies from start to finish, it is important for websites to ensure that they are accurate, since misleading statements can lead to liability. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the need for accuracy is particularly true if you’re say, the Prime Minister of Canada. Yet a reader recently noticed that the Prime Minister’s Office website may be incorrectly stating its use of cookies, which are small files that may be placed on user’s computer hard drive by a website to monitor usage or identify repeat visitors.

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July 31, 2012 11 comments Columns

Prime Minister’s Privacy Policy Requires a Re-Write

Appeared in the Toronto Star on July 29, 2012 as Prime Minister’s Privacy Policy Requires a Re-Write As public concern over Internet privacy has grown in recent years, one of the first responses is invariably to focus on the need for improved disclosure through easily accessible website privacy policies. The […]

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July 31, 2012 1 comment Columns Archive

Canadian Privacy Gets Toews-ed Again: Why a PIA on Airport Eavesdropping Isn’t Good Enough

For the second time this year, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has found himself at the centre of a major privacy backlash. In February, Toews was the lead on Bill C-30, the Internet surveillance legislation that sparked a huge public outcry that forced the government to shelve the bill within ten days. While Toews maintains the legislation will return (and implausibly argues that it could have assisted in the Magnotta investigation), it hasn’t moved in months.

The toxic connection between Toews and privacy escalated over the weekend with a report that Canada Border Services has installed surveillance equipment in the Ottawa airport that will allow for eavesdropping on traveller conversations. The report led to immediate questions in the House of Commons with Toews defending the practices and even revealing that the eavesdropping activities may be more extensive than initially reported. A day later, Toews was backtracking, announcing that the eavesdropping plans were on hold pending a review from the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

That’s a start (the federal commissioner’s office expressed concern that no privacy impact assessment (PIA) has been filed), but frankly it isn’t nearly good enough to address the privacy concerns associated with this issue.

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June 20, 2012 8 comments News